Do you think the Vatican summit and actions resulting from it will lead to significant improvements in the handling of the ongoing abuse crisis?

Yes

No

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte attend a debate on the future Europe at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2019. France recalled its ambassador to Italy last week in the two EU countries' biggest diplomatic dispute since World War II. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)

Italy slams EU for lack of solidarity, but faulted for same

February 12, 2019 - 2:14 pm

The Associated Press

ROME (AP) — Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte is demanding "authentic" solidarity from Italy's European Union partners on the issue of migrants, but is drawing sharp barbs himself from EU lawmakers for refusing to join a united European stand on Venezuela.

Conte, addressing the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, on Tuesday evening, insisted that his country's EU partners quit following "nationalistic logic" and instead take in some of thousands of migrants brought to Italy after being rescued at sea.

But Christian Democrat leader Manfred Weber used the debate on the future of Europe to appeal to Conte for Italy to join the "common European approach" that recognizes Juan Guaido as Venezuela's interim leader until a new presidential election is held in the South American nation.